Alarm mechanism



Dec. i8 i923. 3,478,169

J. M. BUT-CHER ALAM MEGHANIs-M Filed sept. 3o. 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 1s w23 3,478,116@ J. M. BUTCHER v f ALARM MECHANI SM Filed sept. so 1922 2 'sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. i8, i923..

awaits rarest ermee.,

JAMES BUTCEIER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.ernaar iencnanisir.

f-ipplieation filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,452.

To all w from t may concern.'

Be it known that ll, JAMES, M. BU'rormR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of my specification.

My invention relates to an alarm mechag nism more especially adapted for use in con` nectionwith a Jewel or cash box or container for valuable documents and has for its object the provision of mechanism vwhich will be positive in its operation and of such simple and sensitive construction that any unauthorized handling or movement of the box'or container will result in the actuation of the alarm mechanismy when the latter has been set` My invention contemplates the provision of mechanism which may be set by the owner of the box or container before the lid'orl top has been closed and locled in place; the alarm mechanism involving separate alarm sounding e'ements which may be separately employed; both of which, however, are adaptedl to be set yinto operation through the same gravity Controlled means. The objects and operation of my improved mechanism will be more readily comprehended from the detailed description of vvthe accompanying drawings, wherein A- Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through one end of a suitable box or container provided with my improved mechanism, a portion whereof is broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line'2-2 of Figurer l. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 lookingv in the direction of the arrows.

Figure l is a detail view in perspective of a guide and supporting member for the tripping elements of the mechanism. n

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the offset line 5**5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the mechanism with portions broken away and shown in section. n l Figure?- is a detail sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5 locking in the ldirection of the arrows.

element.

The invention as disclosed in the drawings is especially adapted for use in connection with a suitable box or container, namely of the type usually employed as a cash or jewel box, shown at 15, and provided with a suitable hinged top or lid 16, to permit access to the box interior; my improved alarm mechanism being preferably secured to one of the end walls of the'box on the interior thereof, with certain of the mechanism enclosed in a suitable housing or shell as indicated at 17 in order that the contents of the box cannot-come into contact with the tripping cement whereby the alarm is set off.

The mechanism comprises a suitable bell,

4indicated at 18, provided with the usual spring driven mechanism controlled by a suitable pawl or detent; the spring in the construction shown being controlled or wound through proper rotation of the bell or gong whereby 'the arbor to which the spring, indicated at 19, is secured. The alarm mechanism just referred to is of a well known construction, provided with a striker 2O actuated by the star-wheel 21 secured on an arbor provided with a pinion 21L meshing with a pinion 22 whose arbor is provided with a small pinion 23 which meshes with the pinion 24 secured on the arbor on which spring 19 is wound. By inserting the pinions 22 and 23 for driving star-wheel 21 which actuates striker 20, it is apparent that am enabled to secure a longer duration of alarm when the mechanism is set in operation than would be the case where pinion 24 is placed in direct operative relation with the pinion mounted on the arbor containing starwheel 21. Mounted in the rigidly held walls or member 25 and 26 of the alarm mechanism just described isl a slidably mounted plunger 27, maintained in normal position, namely so as to protrude a prede-- termined extent through wall 26, by means of a suitable spring as at- 28 and this plunger is provided with a collar or shoulder as at 29 which normally engages the upper end ofk the detent 30 so as .to hold the lower end thereof in immovable relation with the starwheel 21 and thus prevent unwinding action of the various pinions induced by the tension of' spring 19. The plunger 27 normally protrudes through wall 26 and is disposed into the path of a.`lever 31 pivotally mount@` ed at 32ibetween the wall 26 and the main wall 33 of the alarm mechanism.

The lower endoi the lever 31 is preterably 'iven a twist or bent at a slight inclination als at 34 so as to permit sliding engagement with the end ot'plunger 27 when the lever 31 is oscillated yabout its pivotal point,

y 4'the main wall 33. The shell or tubular porvtion 36i's providedwith ak plunger 38 with which the endy of lever 31 has ball-aiid-soeket connection as at 39, whereby plunger 38 will be forced to move downwardly by the action of lever 31 induced by the spi-mfg 35. The

upper end of plunger 38 is shown provided with a finger control latch member 40 preterably loosely mounted on plunger 33 to per mit latch member 40 to be swung laterally l onto the upperend oi"k tubular shell or portion 36, thereby holding vthe plunger upward, against the downward pull of lever 31, out oi operativeposition- The tubular shell or por-y tion 36 at its upperend is provided with a slot as at 41 into which the latch member 40 may pass when oscillated slightly iorward of the position shown in Figure 6,

thereby permitting the plunger 38f'to more` into set position. rllhe lower end 42 ofthe l eo plunger 3S is preferably yieldingly4 connect-` ed to thev upper portion ot the plunger 38 by al link connection as .at 43, to allow lat-` eral or slight sidewise movement oi the poi'-Y tion 42 as the plunger moves complet \ly downward alter same'is released by mecha-` nism hereinafter described. The portion yl2 is vshown slightlyi'educed intermediate of its ends, that-is to say the sides are shown con caved, seeFigure 3, to permit a slight lateral lplay attlie lower end oif the tubular portion or shell36'.l The lower portionv 42 of the plunger 38l is shown provided with a 'tapered or needle point-at 44v which is adapted to resi` on a tapered or needle portion 45 ot a ity controlled pendant or weight member-46. The gravity controlledmember 46 is prefern ably shown provided with a threaded aperture to receive the threaded .stem 47 oi the" needle member 45, although it may be made integral therewithif desired. The needle meiiiber 45 :is shown mounted in a yoke 4S, with the lowerl or bluntfend of the needle protruding slightly| into the yoke 43, where it is rounded and rests in a small depression or socket 49 formed in the bracket` member 50, whose upper end is shown in the nature of a collar portion 51 adapted to be removably secured to the. lower end of the shell or tubular portion 36 by means of a set-screw as at 52. l From the construction shown it is apparent that the gravity actuated pendant or member 46 is rather delicately supported in the socket49, with the major part or weight beneath its support, which allows it y to readily swing upon any slight movement or jar being givenk to lthe box or con-v tainer in lwhich the mechanism is mounted; and by reason of the fine contact between the needle l points 44 and 45, any minute movementof the gravity controlled member or pendant 46 out of vertical position, and therefore outfof supporting position :tor` the lower end oi' plunger 387 will permit plunger.' l38 to move downwardly; whiley the loose joint or connection between the main portion of the plunger 38 and its lower portion `permits the lower portion42r to move toI one side of its vertical aXis and therefore out of alignment with the needle point 45 to enable the plunger to complete its downward travel. This downward movement of the plunger,

"through the .action of the spring35, will.v

`cause the lower end y34 of lever 31 to press plunger 27 inwardly, thereby moving itsV collar or shoulder 29 'out of engagement with the detent 30 and permitting the main spring 19 to cause rotation of the various pinions'and the star-wheel 21 which will give ni l the striker 2Oy the necessary vibration for y ringing the bell or gong 18. v

As an auxiliary. alarm` mechanism I provide means` tor discharging a cartridge which is intended togbe placed in the barrel. or holder 53 disposed adjacent an opening inJ the wall of the vbox*` or container 15. TheA cartridge is discharged by a trigger or plunger member 54 shown provided with,v

the tapered cartridge engaging point 55. The main wall oi the alarm-holding housing or shell 33is shown provided with right angularly disposed portions 56, 56 apertured toy permit slidingvmovement of the trigger vor plunger 54. The plunger-"54 is under constant spring pressure through they actionv of a spring 57 shown disposed aboutthe trigger or plungerq54 and bearing against one ofv the walluportions 56, whileV` the other end engages with the finger engaging portion 58 shown formed integral with the trigger or plunger 54; I yprovide a breechmember 59 which is pivoted at 60 intermediate of the lug or wall portion 56 and the barrel-or car,-` tridge holder y53 so asto permit the member 59 to be swung upwardly and out' of juxta-l position with the barrel or cartridge holder 53 when the plunger or trigger member 54 has been retracted. The end of the` member v on which the main spring 19 is wound.

59, adjacent to the cartridge holder 53, 'is apertured for centering the point 55 of the plunger or trigger 54 and this end loit the member 59 is in close proximity to the cartridge-holder 53 to prevent back flash or iiring ot the cartridge.

The trigger er plunger member 54 on its lower side is provided at a suitable point with a notch as at 6l adapted to engage with the lug or wall portion 56 when the trigger has been retracted against spring 57 which latter, by reason of being disposed about the trigger or plunger 54, causes the plunger or trigger 54 to drop down at the rear 0r inward end thereof when the same has been drawn back sufficiently, thus causing the plunger or trigger to be held in cocked or "set7 position.

The release of the trigger or plunger 54 from itsl cocked or set position is induced by a loosely mounted leve-r 62, the upper end whereof is 'formed to engage with the lower side of the trigger or plunger 54 when the latter has been retracted or placed in cocked condition; while the lower end of the lever 62 extends. rearward ot the gong holding shell 26 to a point in proximity to an arbor 63 which is adapted to rotate with the master pinion 24, namely with the arbor This arbor 63 is provided with a pawl 64 loosely mounted thereo-n soV as to be free to drop into the depending or vertical position shown in Figure 6 when it has passed the point there ita will engage with the lower end of the lever 62. rlhe arbory 63 is shown bent at right angles to its axis and the immediate end turned inward and into the path of pawl 64 in order that the inturned end, shown at 65, will engage with the pawl 64 after the arbor has been partially rotated, thereby7 lifting the pawl 64 from the normal position shown in full lines in -Figure 6 into the position indicated in dotted lines, where it will engage with the lowerl end of lever 62 which assumes the position indica-ted in dotted lines in said ligure through the in- -d movement of the plunger or trigger 54, namely e position where the upper end ot lever 62 will be in. engagement with the lower side oi plunger or trigger 54. The continued rotation of arbor' 63 will .force pawl 64 against `the raised lower end of lever 62, causing said lever to be moved about .its pivotal point, thereby forcingl trigger or plunger `54 upwardly sutlioient to move notch 6l of the plunger out of engagement with the lug or wall portion 56, thus releasing the plunger and permitting the spring 57 to become distended. r1Ehe spring will cause the plunger to be suddenly forced forward, bringing its point 55 into` forcible or striking engagement with the cartridge and causing the latter to be discharged. By mounting the breech 59 pivotally as described, it is evident that the shell or discharged cartridge may be easily removed by withdrawing plunger or trigger 54 suinciently to move its point 55 out of the aperture in the breech which permits member 59 to be swung upwardly away from the barrel 53 and while member 59 is in this position the barrel or holder 53 may be provided with a new cartridge.

By loosely mounting the pawl 64 as shown and described, it is apparent that the pawl will drop to the normal position shown in full lines as soon as it has passed out of engagementwith the lower end of lever 62, so that the pawl 64 will not remain at a point where it would interfere with'the re-setting t the cartridge discharging mechanism.

To place the mechanism in alarm sounding condition, it is, of course, essential to see that spring 19 of the bell or gong is suficiently wound and after the box or container has been placed where it is to remain, namely at rest in horizontal position where the gravity member 46 will be disposed in vertical position, the plunger 38 is then 90 slightly lowered by grasping linger control latch member and turning the same so as to register with the slot 41, which will permit the plunger' 36 to move slightly downward through the action of the pressure 95 exerted thereon by lever 3l induced by its spring 35. Such lowering oit the plunger 38 will bring its lower point 44 at rest on the needle point of gravity member 46, as sidewise movement of the portion 42 is im- 100 possible while wholly within the shell or tubular portion 36. ln view of the tine or 'minute holding` relation provided between the needle points 44 and 45, it is apparent that the slightest movement or jar of the box or container will cause the .gravity member 46 to oscillate out of vertical position, thereby moving its point 45 out of holding relation with the point 44 and permitting plunger 33 to move further down- 110 ward. This will permit lever 3l to oscillare through the action oit' its spring 35 and cause the lower end 34 or the lever 3l to pass across the protruding end'of plunger 2T, forcing the plunger or rod against. the action of the spring 28 and moving the collar or lug 29 on the plunger 27 out of holding engagement withl the detent 30, which in turn will release star-wheel 2l and permit rotation of' the various pinions and 'there- 125 fore actuation of the striker 2() caused by detent 30 riding over the star-wheel 2l.

Assuming that the user has also set the auxiliary or cartridge firing mechanism as previously described, the continued rota- 195 tion ot the main spring arbor and therefore arbor 63 will .causo the latter to rotate into engagement with the depending pawl 64, forcing the pawl in coimtencloclrwise direction, in Figure 6, until it engages with the I lower end of lever 62,I and oscillates theV then 'free to drop intol itsdepending posi#` tion shown in liull lines in `Figure .6.

The construction shown l believe to be .a simple adaptation ol my invention as applied to a jewel or cash box,falthough adapted for other uses; .the invention have ing been described in terms employed merelyv as terms of description and not as terms .olf limitation as structural modifications are possible and may be iliade without, however, departi g from the spritot my inif'ention lll/'hat l claim is l.A Alarm mechanism, comprising an energized alarm element, spring controlled;

means adapted tocontrol the alarm elen'ient, a vertically movable plunger.provided' with a laterally swinging lower endmeanswhereby said end is normally held against lateral 7 miniem-eut, a spring controlled lever inter mediate olf said spring controlled .means und said plunger wherebyA said' spring conjlrolled means moved into alarm releasing 'position whenl said. plunger moves down# ward, and a gravity` actuated member pivotally mountedbeneath the yielding lower end ot said plunger,.whereby the latter is held against do-wnvv'aid movement while the gravity actuated member is in al'ignn'ient therewith.

Alarm mechanism, comprising an energized alarm element,V a spring controlled member for controlling said alarm t-xlement,

a spring controlled plunger for controlling said member, a pivotedl lever normally tending to move said plunger out of controlling relation with the spring controlled. member, a vertically movable plunger operatively connected with said lever so fis to holdl the. latter out ot o1 erative relation with said lirst plunger, said verticallyx movable plunger being provided with a laterally yieldable atd tennated lower end, means whereby said vertically movable. plunger' may be held against downward movement, and a gravity controlled. member oscillatably mounted lbe-y neath said vertically movable plunger. and provided with an attenuated portion adapted to receive the attenuated lower end of saidv vertically movable plunger to hold said plunger against downward movement.

3. Alarm mechanism, comprising an energized alarm element, a spring-controlled plunger adapted tocontrol the release oit said alarm element,-a spring pressed level" adapted. to control said plunger, a vertically movable plunger having controllingrelation with said lever, said last plunger having an attenuated lower end and normally tending to move downwardly, a guide tenuated lower end of the vertically movable plunger normally rests when the weightedV member is` in alingment with the vertical axis of said plunger and said meanshas been.

moved to plunger-releasing position.

d. Alarm mechanism, comprising an enen gized alarm element, a spring controlled plunger adapted to control the release .ont

saidalarm element, a pivoted lever adapted to control said plunger, a verticallyr movable.

plunger having controlling relation with said lever, a slotted casing in which4 said last plunger reciprocates, means secured to said plunger,-adapted'to move through the slot et said casing, said meansv being adapted to be moved laterally out orn register withv said y slot, to hold the plunger against downward movement, said last plunger being provided with. a yieldable lower endl adapted to move laterally when said plunger moves toward.

the lower-end ol saidca-sing, andan oscillatably mounted weighted member on which the lower end of said plunger normally rests when the weighted member is in. alignment with the vertical axis ofsaid plunger. l y

5. Alarm mechanism ol' the character described, comprising an alarm element, means whereby said element is actuated, a verti.

cally movable plunger, means whereby said plunger maybe held against downward movement, a spring-controlled means,4 a spring pressed lever. intermediate of said plungers and controlled by saidlirst plunger .whereby the second plunger is actuated against the action ot its spr-ing whenrthe first plunger moves downwardly, .and gravitycontrolled means lia-ving a fixed pivoted relation relative to the first mentioned plunger whereby downward movement `oit said` plunger is prevented when said gravity controlled means is in vertical alignment with. said plunger.

6. In alarm mechanismof the character described, comprising a springcontrolledy alarm element provided with an .arbor actu-v ated by the spring, a gear mounted on said arbor .to rotate therewith, a pinion meshing connected with said pinion to rotate therewith, a second pinion with which the last l mentioned gear meshes,.a striker-actuating `star-wheel operatively secured'to said last mentioned pinion, a spring-controlled member,` adapted to -hold said star-wheel with said` gears and. pmions against rotation, a spring-controlled pivoted lever adaptedto move said said member out K plunger adapted .to control said iirst mentionedy navale@ plunger may be held against vertical movement, the lower end of said housing being provided with an extension or bracketdisposed beneath the path of the plunger, gravity-controlled means pivotally mounted on f said bracket to swing laterally, said plunger and means being provided with contacting points, a spring-controlledmember normally olding said alarmelement against alarmsounding operation, a spring-controlled lever operatively connected with said plunger,

adapted to force said last mentioned member out of holding relation with the alarm element when said plunger moves downwardly upon movement of the gravity-controlled means out of alignment with said plunger.

8. In alarm mechanism, an alarm element, a vertically movable plunger provided with a laterally movable contact-forming portion, a housing in which said plunger is slidably mounted, a pivot-providing bracket immovably arranged beneath the path of said plunger, a gravity-controlled pendant pivoted on said bracket to swing laterally and rovided with an upwardly disposed contact- 'orming portion normally adapted to contact with the contact-forming portion of the plunger to prevent downward movement of the latter, aspring-controlled plunger whereby the alarm element is normally held against actuation, a spring-controlled lever, pivoted intermediate or" its ends, with one end having operative connection with said vertically movable plunger, while the other end is adapted to shift said second mentioned plunger out of alarm element arresting position when said pendant swings out of holding relation with the vertically movable plunger, and means secured to the upper end of the vertically movable plunger adapted to engage with said housing toy hold the plunger against downward movenient. 1

9. In alarm mechanism of the character described, an alarm element, a vertically movable plunger provided with a laterally yieldable contact-forming point, a slotted housing in which the plunger is slidable, a latch member swiveled on said plunger and adapted to move in a slot of the housing when moved out of latching position and into alignment with said slot, a bracket secured beneath said housing, a gravity actuated member loosely mounted on said bracket and provided with a contact-forming point on which the contact-forming point of the plunger is adapted to rest when in alignment, a spring-controlled plungernormally adapted to arrest the alarm element, and a spring-controlled lever pivoted intermediate of its ends with one end disposed through a slot in said housing and operatively connected with the vertically movable plunger, while the other end has sliding relation with the end of the spring-controlled plunger and is adapted to torce said plunger out of arresting position when the rst mentioned plunger moves downwardly.

JAMES M. BUTCHER.

fWtnemes: y G. HEIDMAN, p

F. A. FLoRnLL. 

